Great article as usual Chris, had no idea the colours came from Oxbridge rivalry, although it makes total sense.
I had feint memories of them playing in red and it turns out they did during the “Yokoyama Era” (1988–1992) to better reflect the colors of the Japanese national flag. But they ditched it after failing to qualify for the 1990 World Cup and the 1992 Olympics.
Apparently the 2026 away shirt - designed on the theme of “colors beyond the horizon”- white with multicolored stripes is in massive demand due to its fashion appeal.
I seriously hope it doesn’t come to England vs Samurai Blue - one, England could lose as they did at Wembley recently, and two, I will have to tread that fine line of consoling my wife and brother-in-law whilst inside giving it a resounding ‘get in my son’!
Hi Richard - nice to know I'm not alone in doing some delicate diplomacy!
I hadn't heard that about the 2026 kit - will have to take a look.
I love the Oxbridge story. My wife used to be a fan of the 'Hey! Spring of Trivia' gameshow (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hey!_Spring_of_Trivia), and now she rates my Substack ideas on how many presses of the Hē button it deserves...
I haven't watched a single match for years; I don't like football at all. But I happened to see the 2011 tournament! Coincidentally.
Anyway, I don't follow any similar events, but if I were to bet, I'd put my money on Korea or Japan reaching the quarter-finals or something like that. For a reason that might sound completely odd to seasoned fans: those teams had limited exposure to COVID compared to others, which might give them an edge when playing against teams that would have been considered slightly better on paper in the pre-pandemic era. Idk, it's just a guess from a total layman.
I'm late to this article, and sad that Japan wasn't able to pull through with Brazil, but wait, "blue" has nothing to do with aizome?! So is the identity "Japan blue" is something different?
Thanks for reading! Perhaps the steady darkening of the blue, over the years, owes something to indigo dyeing in Japan. But the original idea of using blue was that fascinating Oxford/Cambridge connection.
Ouch, I hadn't realised it was three times. I grew up watching Roberto Baggio, so it seems unbelievable that Italy would struggle. What's been the problem...?
Ah, I think that used to be worry in England too (though I can't claim to be a football expert). Good to see Japan looking strong, at this point, though!
Hi Mark, what a great question. My semi-educated guess is that it's because baseball ended up embedded in Japanese elite schools very early on, while football and cricket were played mostly in foreign enclaves.
Given Britain's record of spreading our sports around the world and then being beaten at them by those same countries, perhaps there wasn't much appetite for getting Japan enthusiastic about cricket...!
A lovely piece - I am reading The Japanese at the moment - and I long to go to Japan. Please note - children and grandchildren are disloyal, unreliable and utterly of their own mind. (How is this fair?) I would never support the other side when I watch them play rugby, football, tennis and chess. Hmmmm. Now there is a thought. 🤗
Thank you for reading the book, and for your kind support for this newsletter. Much appreciated.
I also appreciate the caution about children's loyalty! I'll have to steel myself for what's coming, as the tournament progresses. For our eldest child, I'm already pretty much reduced to the role of chauffeur and ATM... 😂
Great article as usual Chris, had no idea the colours came from Oxbridge rivalry, although it makes total sense.
I had feint memories of them playing in red and it turns out they did during the “Yokoyama Era” (1988–1992) to better reflect the colors of the Japanese national flag. But they ditched it after failing to qualify for the 1990 World Cup and the 1992 Olympics.
Apparently the 2026 away shirt - designed on the theme of “colors beyond the horizon”- white with multicolored stripes is in massive demand due to its fashion appeal.
I seriously hope it doesn’t come to England vs Samurai Blue - one, England could lose as they did at Wembley recently, and two, I will have to tread that fine line of consoling my wife and brother-in-law whilst inside giving it a resounding ‘get in my son’!
Hi Richard - nice to know I'm not alone in doing some delicate diplomacy!
I hadn't heard that about the 2026 kit - will have to take a look.
I love the Oxbridge story. My wife used to be a fan of the 'Hey! Spring of Trivia' gameshow (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hey!_Spring_of_Trivia), and now she rates my Substack ideas on how many presses of the Hē button it deserves...
I haven't watched a single match for years; I don't like football at all. But I happened to see the 2011 tournament! Coincidentally.
Anyway, I don't follow any similar events, but if I were to bet, I'd put my money on Korea or Japan reaching the quarter-finals or something like that. For a reason that might sound completely odd to seasoned fans: those teams had limited exposure to COVID compared to others, which might give them an edge when playing against teams that would have been considered slightly better on paper in the pre-pandemic era. Idk, it's just a guess from a total layman.
Interesting theory! Not something I'd considered before. Japan are certainly looking good at this point...
I'm late to this article, and sad that Japan wasn't able to pull through with Brazil, but wait, "blue" has nothing to do with aizome?! So is the identity "Japan blue" is something different?
Thanks for reading! Perhaps the steady darkening of the blue, over the years, owes something to indigo dyeing in Japan. But the original idea of using blue was that fascinating Oxford/Cambridge connection.
Our house will be USA and Japan. I think for this World Cup, I will switch sides and go with Japan.
Makes sense! They're looking good at the moment, though I don't want to jinx anything... 😂
Choosing between Italy and Japan will be easy: my home team didn’t even qualify. Again. For the third time in a row.
Ouch, I hadn't realised it was three times. I grew up watching Roberto Baggio, so it seems unbelievable that Italy would struggle. What's been the problem...?
Long story... One big problem is that there are just too many foreign players in Serie A and little space for promising young Italian players.
Ah, I think that used to be worry in England too (though I can't claim to be a football expert). Good to see Japan looking strong, at this point, though!
We watched one of the 2011 games and ended up after the game in the same restaurant as the mothers of some of the players.
Based on kids I know in similar situations, if Japan and England play they'll support the winning team....
Ha - yes! I can well imagine. Despicable glory-hunters... 🤣
How come cricket lost out to baseball in Japan?
Hi Mark, what a great question. My semi-educated guess is that it's because baseball ended up embedded in Japanese elite schools very early on, while football and cricket were played mostly in foreign enclaves.
Given Britain's record of spreading our sports around the world and then being beaten at them by those same countries, perhaps there wasn't much appetite for getting Japan enthusiastic about cricket...!
Timing is everything! Thanks for the explanation.
A lovely piece - I am reading The Japanese at the moment - and I long to go to Japan. Please note - children and grandchildren are disloyal, unreliable and utterly of their own mind. (How is this fair?) I would never support the other side when I watch them play rugby, football, tennis and chess. Hmmmm. Now there is a thought. 🤗
Thank you for reading the book, and for your kind support for this newsletter. Much appreciated.
I also appreciate the caution about children's loyalty! I'll have to steel myself for what's coming, as the tournament progresses. For our eldest child, I'm already pretty much reduced to the role of chauffeur and ATM... 😂